Police searching for suspect who shot boy with blow gun

New London police are still looking for the individual who used a blow gun to shoot an approximately 10-year-old boy with a dart Monday afternoon.

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By DANNY HENLEYdanny.henley@courierpost.com

Hannibal Courier - Post - Hannibal, MO

By DANNY HENLEYdanny.henley@courierpost.com

Posted Mar. 27, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 5:57 PM

By DANNY HENLEYdanny.henley@courierpost.com

Posted Mar. 27, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 5:57 PM

NEW LONDON

New London police are still looking for the individual who used a blow gun to shoot an approximately 10-year-old boy with a dart Monday afternoon.

According to Police Chief Brad Sanders, around 3 p.m. two youngsters were walking west next to West First Street when a pickup truck approached. From within the pickup was fired a 3- to 4-inch dart which stuck one of the children in an arm.

Sanders says the youngster was not seriously injured.

“Luckily he had a heavy coat on and that heavy coat took most of the thrust of the dart. It slowed it down enough that it just barely broke his skin. But it could have been a very dangerous injury. It could have took an eye out or done anything,” he said.

The youngsters ran to the Casey’s General Store where Store Manager Arlene Hudson did what she could to help the injured boy.

“The little boy was very upset. Of course he was scared to death and it startled me when I saw he had the dart in his arm,” she said.

The boy removed the dart before Hudson could reach him.

“He jerked it out of his arm,” said Hudson. “The other little boy grabbed the dart. I grabbed a napkin and took it away from him. I didn’t know what was on the dart.”

After getting the child in the store, Hudson did her best to calm him.

“He kept wondering if he was going to be OK. I was just trying to reassure him that he would be OK,” she said. “I got him a piece of pizza and something to drink, and he settled down. He was pretty good by then.”

Hudson phoned the authorities.

“I called 911 to tell them I needed an officer down here ... I needed some assistance. I also asked for them to get a hold of his parents,” she said.

Hudson had no second thoughts about helping the boy.

“If it was one of my kids or grandkids, I’d want somebody to help them,” she said.

Hudson had seen the child in the store before.

“I didn’t really know who he was, but I know him now. He came in last night and visited with me,” she said. “He told me he’d gotten his tetanus shot. I think we’re buddies now.”

Both Hudson and Sanders have trouble believing something like that would happen in New London.

“I can’t imagine anybody doing a child, or anybody that way,” said Hudson.

Page 2 of 2 - “New London is as good little town,” said Sanders.

Law enforcement is on the lookout for a gray, four-door pickup that may have been a Dodge.

“These are 10-year-old kids and they don’t get too detailed. They were pretty rattled from the incident and that took their attention away from any details of the vehicle. We got a color of the vehicle and maybe a make, but that’s about it,” said Sanders, who believes the dart was fired from the pickup’s rear-seat area.

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call the New London police at (573) 985-4041.